I cant tell you how many times Ive heard a stable owner tell me
"They wont sue me. They signed a liability waiver". This statement
reflects a misconception prevalent in the horse industry  that a liability waiver
will prevent lawsuits from being filed. Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact,
many stable owners are currently using standard form liability waivers drafted in such
broad, generic terms as to be virtually unenforceable in the event a lawsuit gets filed.
How can this be?

Most stables require participants to sign "liability waivers" before they
participate in riding activities. The waiver form, signed by the participant, typically
"holds the stable harmless" for any accidents or injuries suffered by the
participant while on the premises. Often, a stable owner or instructor obtained the form
from a friend or from a generic form book, and started using it without first requesting
review by a licensed attorney. The stable owner believes the waiver prevents the
participant from later suing the stable. However, the enforceability of the waiver depends
largely on the specific wording of the waiver, as well as the particular legal
requirements which differ from state to state. In other words, that waiver is
meaningless without proper wording and compliance with applicable state law.

Consider the following example. A young boy and his father arrive at the lesson stable,
ready to begin lessons. The stable owner gives the boy and his father a lesson contract to
review and sign. The short-form contract contains information identifying the stable, the
participant, the dates of lessons and the riding level of the child. The agreement also
contains the following clause:

"I agree to take full responsibility for myself and the animal I am riding.
I will hold the stable blameless for any accident, injury or loss that might occur due to
my participation in these lessons, and free from all liability for accidents, injuries or
losses."

The father and boy both sign. The boy later falls off his horse during the
lesson and breaks his collarbone. The boys parents sue the stable on behalf of their
minor son. The stables attorney files a Motion to Dismiss Petition based upon the
signed liability waiver. Will the case be dismissed by the court? Will the waiver work?

Start off with the proposition that liability waivers are not typically favored in the
law. This is because the liability waiver is an extraordinary method of shifting the risk
of negligent conduct away from the negligent party. It is a contractual agreement to waive
common law duties that otherwise exist between two parties. For example, at common law,
the stable owner and lesson instructor owe the boy a duty to exercise reasonable care to
protect him before, during and immediately after his lesson or while he is otherwise on
the premises. The waiver attempts to make the boy solely responsible for his injuries,
even if the injuries were potentially caused by the stable or lesson instructors
negligence.

Because of this unusual shift of responsibility, some states do not enforce liability
waivers at all, holding them "void as a matter of public policy". Other states
enforce them cautiously, asking the following questions:

3. Is the waiver language conspicuous within the document or hidden in fine
print?

4. Is the parties intent to "waive negligence" clearly and
expressly stated in the agreement?

5. Were the parties sufficiently informed about the potential risks in order to
permit a "knowing" waiver of those risks and attendant liabilities?

If any of these questions are answered "No", the waiver may be
unenforceable.

Applying these rules to the above waiver, a court would most likely analyze the
waivers enforceability as follows. On its face, the waiver language appears
conspicuous given its presence in a short form contract. The waiver appears to express the
participants acceptance of full responsibility for any accidents or injuries which
might occur.

On the other hand, the waiver does not mention the possible risks of injuries related
specifically to horseback riding. Accordingly, the father and son can argue they were not
aware of the inherent risks when they signed, and were therefore unable to "knowingly
waive" the liability of the stable where the risks were an unknown factor. In many
states, this absence of risk identification is sufficient to void the waiver. In addition,
many states which have enacted some form of the Equine Limited Liability Act require all
equine contracts and waivers to contain express wording about the "inherent
risks" of equine activities as a prerequisite to invoking the protections of the Act.

The waiver clause in our example additionally lacks clear language which
unambiguously waives the stables liability for its own negligence. Many states,
prior to holding a waiver enforceable, require that waiver to expressly state that the
participant has waived any claims of liability against the stable from acts occurring from
the "neglect" or "fault" of the stable. These terms must be
specifically set forth in the clause in order to be enforceable. These states include, but
are not limited to, Missouri, North Dakota, Delaware, and New York. In those states, the
above waiver would probably be unenforceable.

In other states, including but not limited to Wyoming, Florida, New Hampshire
and Illinois, the clause does not require an express waiver of negligence phrase to be
enforceable. The clause need merely contain evidence of the participants clear
intent to release the stable. For example, consider the following clause:
"Participant shall hold harmless and release Stable from any and all claims and
damages which may occur from participating in any and all activities sanctioned by
Stable". A similar clause was enforced by a Wyoming court, which found the clause to
be a clear and unambiguous release of liability even though it did not specifically
mention the release or waiver of the stables "negligence".

A waiver can be a strong defense tool for a stable owner or lesson instructor,
and its use should be considered in all instances involving equine activities. However, do
not automatically assume your current waiver is enforceable under your particular
states laws. If you currently use a waiver in your equine business, take another
look at it. Is it conspicuous? Does it inform the participant of the inherent risks of the
activity? Does it comply with your states Equine Limited Liability Act? Does it
include an express waiver of negligence clause? Can the participant understand what he or
she is reading, and its legal significance? If so, your waiver is probably positioned to
enjoy enforcement under the law. However, as in all instances involving legal matters, you
should have your waiver carefully scrutinized by a local attorney to ensure its compliance
with your particular states laws before you rest securely on its perceived
protections.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Denise Farris is a litigator practicing equine, construction law and general business
litigation. Ms. Farris is licensed to practice in the state and federal courts of Missouri
and Kansas, as well as the 8th and 10th Circuit Court of Appeals and
U.S. Court of Federal Claims, Ms. Farris is a popular author, instructor and lecturer for
the Kansas City Metropolitan and Missouri Bar Associations, as well as various equine
organizations including the Missouri and Kansas Equine Councils. In her spare time, Ms.
Farris competes in endurance and long-distance competitive trail competitions.

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